Terrorism Research

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The Institute has a rich variety of speakers, conferences, research activities, publications, and professional networking opportunities for students interested in terrorism studies.

These efforts are led by faculty, staff, and students in the Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (NPTS) degree program. We pursue in-depth research, assess policy options, and engage in public education on issues relating to terrorism and counterterrorism, extremist groups, regional studies of terrorism, and related aspects of international and homeland security.Actitivities include the following:

Research on topics related to terrorism studies and extremist movements

Learning opportunities for students about the history and trends of these groups

Enhanced discourse at the Institute and within the Monterey community on issues involving terrorism and counterterrorism

Faculty

Our faculty are frequently invited to serve on panels, give presentations, and explain pressing news topics to journalists and other scholars. They serve as a valuable resource to the public and put into context news and events in the field:

Terrorism Studies Club

The Terrorism Studies Club (TSC) is a student-lead organization that engages students in dialogue and research regarding current terrorism and counterterrorism related issues. By providing educational, professional, and social events, TSC helps students fulfill their academic potential and embark on successful careers as intelligence, security, and counterterrorism professionals.

Speakers

Renowned security experts from a range of fields including counterterrorism, intelligence, and special operations regularly visit the Middlebury Institute to participate in conferences, workshops, and to give guest lectures.

Conferences

On March 4, 2016, the Middlebury Institute hosted Culture in the Crossfire: The Security and Policy Implications of the Trafficking and Destruction of Antiquities. The conflicts in Syria and Iraq, coupled with the rise of the Islamic State (IS) have brought renewed attention to the plight of the cultural heritage in the Middle East and throughout the world. The trafficking and destruction of antiquities funds armed groups and organized crime, while also fulfilling the ideological goals of extremists. Without efforts to protect cultural heritage, it is likely that irreplaceable losses to our shared history will continue unabated. The goal of this conference was to accurately portray the global scale of these problems and to propose tangible policy solutions for the public and private sectors to address these phenomena.

Publications

The Institute prides itself on remaining at the forefront of the field of terrorism studies, anticipating and researching the newest security threats and trends. Several examples of publications created by our faculty, staff, and students are listed below

Future of Terrorism Research at the Middlebury Institute

In the past some of these activities were organized under the umbrella of the Monterey Terrorism and Research Program (MonTREP), a project affiliated with the NPTS degree. While MonTREP is currently not active, our faculty, staff, and students are committed to furthering the vision of the Middlebury Institute being an academic and professional resource on terrorism-related issues to the wider international security community.